Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Malmo Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Malmo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,081 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,224 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,368 in Malmo, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 32% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Malmo sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Malmo by 56%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
$13.74 SEK 133
-74.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
$83.5 SEK 807
-61.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
$12.74 SEK 123
-62.01%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
$5.15 SEK 49.73
-46.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
$2.68 SEK 25.92
-48.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$2.10 SEK 20.29
-64.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
$7.81 SEK 75.5
-61.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
$8.01 SEK 77.4
-51.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
$1.73 SEK 16.76
0.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$3.08 SEK 29.73
-20.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$3.48 SEK 33.67
-66.38%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
$4.53 SEK 43.80
-46.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
$12.41 SEK 120
16.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
$13.01 SEK 126
-66.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
$26.83 SEK 259
-55.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
$3.40 SEK 32.84
9.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$2.94 SEK 28.43
-44.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
$3.29 SEK 31.83
-16.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$4.83 SEK 46.69
-53.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
$1.87 SEK 18.10
2.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
$1.94 SEK 18.76
17.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.55 SEK 24.68
-58.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$1.34 SEK 13.00
-46.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
$7.88 SEK 76.2
-58.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
$11.67 SEK 113
98.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
$2.40 SEK 23.25
15.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
$2.73 SEK 26.39
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,778
$3.46 SEK 33.40
-92.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
$71.0 SEK 686
-88.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,659
$6.76 SEK 65.3
-92.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,532
$2.64 SEK 25.49
-84.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
$57.1 SEK 552
-89.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.90 SEK 18.41
-57.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
$33.0K SEK 318.6K
-19.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
$33.9K SEK 328.1K
-5.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$155 SEK 1,496
-49.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
$29.60 SEK 286
-86.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
$39.55 SEK 382
-38.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$39.29 SEK 380
150.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
$23.47 SEK 227
-72.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
$17.81 SEK 172
-77.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$157 SEK 1,520
93.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
$4,884 SEK 47.2K
36.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
$105 SEK 1,013
-48.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
$45.70 SEK 442
-17.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$124 SEK 1,199
-30.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$166 SEK 1,607
-54.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$916 SEK 8,856
8.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$791 SEK 7,642
-14.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
$1,702 SEK 16.4K
98.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$1,378 SEK 13.3K
48.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
$4,179 SEK 40.4K
-32.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
$3,318 SEK 32.1K
-32.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$3,148 SEK 30.4K
-94.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.86
173.25%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Malmo: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $916 in Malmo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1785% higher in Malmo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $83.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $412 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ubud, Bali vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Malmo?
Malmo costs about 48% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Malmo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,121 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Malmo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Malmo?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $157 in Malmo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Malmo?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Malmo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Malmo?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Malmo at $2,081. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Malmo?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,408 versus $2,081 in Malmo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Malmo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Malmo?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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